Flip a switch, and the lights come on.

For most of us, electricity is something we rarely think twice about - it is simply there when we need it. But behind that everyday convenience is a constant balancing act: keeping energy reliable (so the lights stay on), affordable, and increasingly, cleaner.

In Singapore, this balance is becoming more complex. As the country works towards net zero, reducing emissions while keeping the power system stable and costs manageable is not straightforward, especially with limited space for large-scale renewable energy like solar.

So where do we go from here?

One option being carefully studied is nuclear energy.

At its core, nuclear energy works in a surprisingly familiar way.

David Toh, Engineer at EMA’s Nuclear Energy Office, explained, “Conventional power plants generate electricity by boiling water and using the steam to turn generators. What makes nuclear energy different is how that heat is produced. Instead of burning coal, or oil or gas, heat is produced by the splitting of atoms through a process called nuclear fission.”

This approach offers several advantages.

Firstly, unlike natural gas, nuclear power can generate electricity with very low carbon emissions during operations.

Secondly, nuclear fuel, which involves uranium atoms, is extremely “energy dense”.

“When you split a Uranium-235 atom, a type of uranium used as nuclear fuel, it releases a lot of energy,” said Tiang Zi Hua, Principal Engineer from the Nuclear Energy Office. “By volume, the uranium nuclear fuel is about 37 million times more energy dense than natural gas – the fuel that Singapore relies heavily on today.”

In simple terms, a small amount of nuclear fuel can go a very long way. That means less space is needed to store fuel, which is an important consideration for land-scarce Singapore. It could also strengthen energy security by reducing the amount of fuel that needs to be shipped and stored.

Price stability is another potential benefit. Natural gas prices can swing with global markets, which can affect electricity costs. For nuclear power, fuel is typically a smaller share of total costs, which can help keep prices more stable over time.

When people hear the word “nuclear,” concerns about safety and radiation are often among the first thing that come to mind.

“Radiation is something we naturally encounter in our daily lives. We are exposed to natural background radiation from the sun, the air, the food we eat, and even medical procedures like X-rays,” Zi Hua said.

“On average, a person receives about 0.9 millisieverts (mSv) of natural background radiation each year. A millisievert is a unit used to measure radiation dose. In comparison, living near an operating nuclear power plant for a year would expose a person to an additional 0.001 millisieverts, which is roughly equivalent to the radiation dose from eating about 10 bananas,” Zi Hua said.

Source: NEA, Effective Radiation Dose, 2019 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Another concern is nuclear waste. While nuclear energy does produce waste, most of it can be safely managed. Only a small portion is considered highly radioactive and is handled with strict safety measures.

David noted that the amount of spent fuel waste produced by a nuclear power plant is relatively small. “To put this in perspective, the spent fuel generated from powering one person's lifetime energy needs with nuclear energy could theoretically fit within a Coca-Cola can.”

Beyond waste management, nuclear energy technologies have evolved significantly in terms of safety and performance.

Older reactors relied more on “active” safety systems that require power and often human action to work. Newer designs increasingly use simple physical effects like gravity and natural circulation to keep the reactor cool, even if power is lost – also known as “passive” safety features.

In fact, Singapore is studying a new generation of nuclear technology known as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

The fundamental safety principle behind SMRs is that their smaller size could mean they contain less radioactive material, potentially making it easier to manage safety and control during an emergency. They are also designed with enhanced safety features that could help reduce the likelihood and impact of unlikely accidents.

This could allow regulators to set a smaller safety buffer zone, which refers to the area around a nuclear facility where emergency planning measures are in place. This is an important consideration for Singapore, where land is limited.

While SMRs could offer potential safety improvements, most projects globally are still at an early stage of development. This means more time is needed for the technology to mature, for operational experience to be built up, and for international safety standards and regulatory frameworks to develop further.

Despite its potential, Singapore has not made any decision on whether to deploy nuclear energy.

Instead, the focus now is on carefully studying whether nuclear energy can be a safe and viable option for Singapore.

For David and Zi Hua, this involves carefully evaluating different reactor designs and examining the assumptions behind them. The assessment process includes shortlisting suitable reactor designs, conducting detailed technical and safety studies, and working closely with international partners and experts to validate findings.

The work also extends beyond reactor technology. “Technology assessment is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other supporting elements in the decision-making process, such as developing robust safety regulations, securing supply chains, and building up the necessary technical expertise in our workforce,” David shared.

On this front, Singapore is also learning from other countries and institutions, as many advanced nuclear energy technologies are still being developed and tested around the world.

Singapore is also preparing for an international review by nuclear infrastructure experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The aim is to assess Singapore’s ability to make an informed decision on whether advanced nuclear energy technologies could be deployed here in the future.

“Ensuring that any potential deployment is safe is fundamental to our approach and decision,” David emphasised.

Any decision on nuclear energy will only be made with a clear understanding of the associated risks and whether it makes sense for Singapore’s unique context.

As the energy landscape continues to evolve, keeping an open mind matters too, because the future of energy is not about relying on a single solution, but it is about exploring all viable options, carefully weighing the trade-offs, and finding the right mix to power Singapore forward.

And somewhere in that mix, nuclear energy may have a potential role to play.